Monday, May 23, 2011

Adam LaRoche's Shoulder — A Timeline

"Just spring training soreness in his throwing arm," Riggleman said. "It's nothing to be concerned about. He wants to play." … Not surprisingly, LaRoche downplayed the seriousness of his injury -- "I don't even want to call it an injury," he said.

Neither he nor Manager Jim Riggleman have any concerns about LaRoche, who is slated to bat cleanup, playing Thursday, opening day.

“Not at all,” LaRoche said. “If it felt as bad as it did when I first got here for spring training, I would still play. And it’s gotten a lot better since then. I don’t think it’s going to be 100 percent anytime soon. Hopefully I can get it up a little bit from what it is now.”

Riggleman said he didn't know what the results of LaRoche's shoulder MRI were, but the Nationals feel good enough about his health to put him back in the lineup against the Braves. He should be ready to go for Thursday's regular season opener, also against Atlanta.

Adam LaRoche, who has been hindered by shoulder soreness for much of the spring, has a partially torn rotator cuff in his throwing arm, a team source confirmed. But the first baseman, who received a cortisone shot, is scheduled to DH tomorrow, will be back at first base Tuesday and doesn't plan to miss any time once the regular season starts Thursday…If LaRoche does miss an extended amount of time at some point, left fielder Michael Morse would be the likely candidate to replace LaRoche. Center fielder Rick Ankiel and reserve outfielder Matt Stairs can also play there.

Adam LaRoche, who hit his first homer of the spring in the fourth inning today, also played first base for the first time since getting a cortisone shot last week. He said the shot "did exactly what we wanted it to," and though his left shoulder - which has a slight labral tear - is only about 50 percent, LaRoche said he's fine playing the season with it at that level.

The Nationals' plan is for Adam LaRoche to play more than 150 games this year and get upwards of 600 plate appearances, even with the small labral tear that will likely limit his throwing all season. But the fact that the team is facing a left-handed pitcher tonight gave manager Jim Riggleman a good chance to rest the first baseman - and for LaRoche, it came at a good time.

He said the pain in his shoulder flared up Tuesday in Florida, several minutes after he fielded a bunt and made a throw. LaRoche has been playing with the injury all week, instinctively taking something off his throws to mask the pain. But he continues to say it's not affecting his swing - his first homer of the year on Thursday put the Nationals ahead for good in the 11th inning against the Marlins. He also doesn't anticipate going to the disabled list unless his swing is affected. But the pain has gotten worse, to the point where it's almost the same as when LaRoche first felt it in February.

"A throw that short (after fielding a bunt) shouldn't be as painful as it is," LaRoche said. "If I can calm it down a little bit, it'd be great."

He has been receiving ultrasound therapy on his shoulder, and will be able to get more of that treatment today than he would on a normal game day. LaRoche is realistic about how much better his shoulder will feel, but is hoping to reduce the pain somewhat.He maintains, however, that he won't need surgery during the season.

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche, who has been playing all season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, will get a second opinion tomorrow, team sources said.

LaRoche is out of the Nationals' lineup today after starting 42 and playing 43 of the Nationals' first 45 games. He was diagnosed with a torn labrum in spring training when he reported problems throwing the ball, but doctors said it would only affect him on defense and wouldn't be detrimental to his swing, since it's his top hand and isn't responsible for most of the power in his swing.

In the first six weeks of the season, though, things have gone the opposite direction for LaRoche. He's played, in manager Jim Riggleman's opinion, Gold Glove-caliber defense at first base, not making an error in 43 games and scooping nine throws, several of which saved errors for other Nationals infielders.

But he's only hitting .172 with three homers, and even for the notoriously slow starter, his lack of production this year has been out of the ordinary.

Neither LaRoche nor Riggleman indicated which doctor the first baseman will see. But when asked about the potential for season-ending shoulder surgery, Riggleman didn’t rule it out.

“That’ll depend on what the doctor says tomorrow and how does it feel tomorrow,” Riggleman said. “He’s been playing with this since spring training. It’s a throwing issue for sure and it’s something that will have to be taken care of and he and the doctors now have to make a decision."

First baseman Adam LaRoche told Riggleman he would see a shoulder specialist on Monday to consult on his torn left-shoulder labrum — that’s his third visit. Technically, that’s “no news.” But, in baseball, the third time isn’t a charm, especially for play-in-pain guys like LaRoche. It’s usually a trip to the disabled list for rest, sometimes followed by surgery if that doesn’t work, either. And it usually doesn’t. Last year, 100 RBI, this year, .172. The Nats have no other real first baseman — anywhere. Ian Desmond better get used to Mike Morse digging out his low throws.